Tropical Plant Identification course

During this two-week Tropical Plant Identification course, Kew botanists share their expertise in identifying plants from the biodiversity-rich tropical regions of the world.

Identifying tropical plant specimens (Image: RBG Kew)

Course details

Taught by botanists from Kew's Herbarium, all with an in-depth knowledge of the plants and habitats of the tropics, the course will give participants an overview of 70 of the most commonly encountered tropical plant families, as well as an introduction to plant morphology and identification tools.

Dates of next course: 23 April - 4 May 2012

Duration: The course runs for two weeks from 9:00–5:30 Monday-Friday

Course venue: Classes are taught in the Kew department, Herbarium, Library, Art & Archives (situated next to the Main Gate to the Gardens on Kew Green); about 15 minutes’ walk from Kew Gardens Underground station (District Line/London Overground) and 10 minutes’ walk from Kew Bridge station (South West Trains).

Fee: The course fee is £700: this covers teaching costs and course materials.

Who is the course is designed for?

This course has been designed for conservation and environment professionals, and is also suitable for graduate students, ethnobotanists, ecologists and zoologists.

Close inspection of a plant specimen to detect family characteristics RBG Kew

How is the course taught?

Through short illustrated lectures, and extensive hands-on practical sessions, Kew botanists will demonstrate the key characters for each family, sharing their expert tips for identification. Students will join identification sessions focused on different regions in the tropics; and a visit to the living collections will provide a chance to apply this knowledge ‘in the field’.

How to apply

Applications for a place on the course should be made using the application form on the course poster. For further information and a copy of the course poster, contact the course coordinators: Tim Utteridge or Gemma Bramley.

Visas

In order to attend these courses at Kew, students from outside the European Economic Area may need to apply for a Student Visitor Visa from the UK Border Agency to enter the UK. For this purpose, Kew is accredited by the British Accreditation Council for Independent Further and Higher Education as a Short Course Provider. Further information will be provided to course applicants – you will need to be accepted onto a course before you can apply for a student visitor visa.